The COMP ended its three-session run north of 3,000

More of the same in Washington, D.C., kept stocks around breakeven, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) flirting with both gains and losses throughout the day. The fiscal-cliff sound bite du jour came courtesy of White House spokesman Jay Carney, who called the Republicans' latest budget proposal "magic beans and fairy dust." Meanwhile, "We have the potential of getting a deal done," President Barack Obama told Bloomberg TV, while Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., urged the commander-in-chief to get more involved. Against this familiar backdrop, and with a lack of economic news to go on, the major market indexes suffered modest losses by the close.

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) didn't stray too far in either direction, ending 13.8 points, or 0.1%, lower. However, the blue-chip barometer maintained a perch atop its 10-day moving average. Among the Dow's 30 components, 14 finished higher, led by Hewlett-Packard's (NYSE:HPQ) 5.1% advance. On the other hand, Home Depot (NYSE:HD) paced the bearish majority, shedding 1.1%.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX) also finished just south of breakeven, surrendering 2.4 points, or 0.2%. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite (COMP) gave up 5.5 points, or 0.2%, to end its three-session run atop the 3,000 level.

The CBOE Market Volatility Index (VIX) tacked on nearly 3%, toppling the 17 level for the first time since Nov. 15.

A Trader's Take

"There was really no major news -- and Wall Street acted like it," said Detrick. "The market seems to simply be taking a pause near various big, round-number levels, like the Nasdaq 3,000, SPX 1,400, and Dow 13,000. It was a nice day to get caught up on some other work, because there wasn't much movement."

Honing in on specific sectors, "Housing was disappointing," he said. "Toll Brothers (NYSE:TOL) came out with great earnings and the entire group gapped higher, yet, by the end of the day, all the stocks were well off their highs. We've been bullish on housing all year, but I'm beginning to notice a lot of bulls showing up to the party all of a sudden."

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA - 17,776.12) headed south out of the gate, eventually settling with a 200.2-point, or 1.1%, loss. Twenty-seven of the Dow's 30 components closed lower, led by a 2.2% drop for UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH). American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) paced the three advancers with its 0.4% gain. On a monthly basis, the DJIA shed 2%, and 0.3% on the quarter.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA - 17,976.31) spent the whole day in the green. At its session peak, the blue-chip barometer was up 296 points, before settling with a 263.7-point, or 1.5%, gain. All but two of the Dow's 30 components closed higher, led by a 2.6% pop for Boeing Co (NYSE:BA). On the flip side, Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) gave back 1.7%, while Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) ended down 0.02%.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA - 17,712.66) dipped below breakeven in early trading, but eventually ended with a gain of 34.4 points, or 0.2%. Eighteen of the index's 30 blue chips finished higher, led by Intel Corporation's (NASDAQ:INTC) late-day, M&A-inspired gain of 6.4%. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) and Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) paced the 12 laggards as oil backpedaled, both surrendering 0.9%. For the week, the Dow dropped 2.3%.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA - 17,678.23) was down almost 140 points at its session low, but ultimately pared its loss to 40.3 points, or 0.2%, for a fourth straight drop. Of the Dow's 30 components, seven moved higher, led by International Business Machines Corp.'s (NYSE:IBM) 0.9% gain. American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) was the biggest loser, dropping 2%.